September’s 5.71 inches of rain here in Atlantic didn’t help efforts to complete the reconstruction of 7th Street/Highway 6. Iowa DOT District 4 Transportation Coordinator Scott Suhr, in Atlantic, says not much progress was made over the past few weeks, due to the rain.  With mostly drier weather this week, crews have been able to get some work done.

Looking east from 7th & Mulberry

Looking west from 7th & Mulberry

Work is underway on sidewalks, and they’re setting up to pour a 25-foot east section of the mainline this Friday. Once that’s done and cured, crews can start working on a 16-foot section of the southern portion of the road. Suhr says he expects (weather permitting), the project will finally be completed in about three-weeks.

Wet weather isn’t the only problem that could affect completion of the project. Temperatures are dropping. Suhr says if overnight temperatures get below freezing and stays there, that could affect how the concrete cures. So far though, that hasn’t been a problem, and they don’t expect it to be an issue prior to completion of the project.

Various issues have affected the project since it began, but Suhr says that’s to be expected. He says he knows the detours have been frustrating for both motorists and businesses along the road, but most people have been understanding.

A road in Shelby County that was closed last month for the replacement of a pipe is now open. The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports 1500th Street, which had been closed over an unnamed tributary of the East Branch of the West Nishnabotna River (just west of Redline), is open following the replacement of a pipe under the road.

The Atlantic School Board received updates Wednesday evening with regard to district technology progress, school progress and planning, and the budget. The work session served as a sort of “primer” for what they can expect in the year ahead, as well as a familiarization with various acronyms, which was helpful for new school board members.

Roger Warne

Prior to making his report to the Board, District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne (Warn) gave new Board members Alison Bruckner, Jenny Williams, and Keith Swanson, former Board President Kristy Pellett and current Board President Josh McLaren, new 1:1 (one to one) laptop computers. The same type of laptops are issued to students. Pellett and McLaren were issued their laptops almost 8 years ago. Warne said their computers are so old he cannot even effectively update them.

Warne said the Technology Department keeps very busy managing and repairing the district’s computers and related components. He said they manage and repair 1,200 Mac devices, 95 I-pads, 135 Chrome Books, 100 Windows devices, and 475 1:1 devices that include the Windows Operating System.

The Technology Dept. also handles the District’s surveillance cameras and recorders. There are 45 digital cameras and assorted analog cameras. The analog cameras are located in the Washington and Schuler Schools. Warne says one of the keys to the operation of cameras and computers is the District’s network system, which includes fiber optics. The current bandwidth is 200 megabits, with an average of 50-to 60-percent of that used each day. The department also handles the district’s phone system, which he says will need replacing in years to come.

He says also, the district has saved about $80,000 through a reduction in the number of printer/copiers that are being made available.

Board Secretary/Business Manager Mary Beth Fast reported to the Board they will receive budget projections next month from Gary Sinclair, who represents PMA Financial and the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB). Sinclair will cover five year projections with regard to the District’s unspent balance.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A second straight monthly survey of nine Midwest and Plains states suggests a slowdown in the region’s economy. A report issued Thursday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index dropped to 47.7 last month, compared with 49.6 in August.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he cited the strong U.S. dollar and global economic weakness among the reasons for the region’s economic slide.  The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.